Which of the following is a branch of the social sciences dealing with aging in the elderly?

Gerontology is the study of aging processes and individuals across the life course. It includes:

  • The study of physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age;
  • The investigation of changes in society resulting from our aging population; and
  • The application of this knowledge to policies and programs.

Gerontology is multidisciplinary in that it combines or integrates several separate areas of study. GSA fosters collaboration between physicians, nurses, biologists, behavioral and social scientists, psychologists, social workers, economists, policy experts, those who study the humanities and the arts, and many other scholars and researchers in aging. Geriatrics, the branch of medical science concerned with the prevention and treatment of diseases in older people, is a part of the broader field of gerontology.

As a result of the multidisciplinary focus of gerontology, professionals from diverse fields call themselves gerontologists. Gerontologists improve the quality of life and promote the well-being of people as they age through research, education, practice, and the application of interdisciplinary knowledge of the aging process and aging populations.

To learn more about gerontology's origins, read the opening article from Volume 1, Issue 1 of the Journal of Gerontology from 1946.

Which term is used for an expert who studies aging?

Gerontology is a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older. Gerontologists investigate age, aging, and the aged. Gerontologists study what it is like to be an older adult in a society and the ways that aging affects members of a society.

Which concept refers to social inequality among age categories within a society?

Age stratification based on an ascribed status is a major source inequality, and thus may lead to ageism. Ageism is a social inequality resulting from age stratification. This is a sociological concept that comes with studying aging population.

What is gerontology quizlet?

Gerontology. The study of aging or the aging process; multidisciplinary in nature.

What age does the government usually define as the elderly years?

Traditionally, the “elderly” are considered to be those persons age 65 and older. By that definition, in 1987 there were just over 30 million elderly people in the United States, more than 12 percent of the total U.S. population of nearly 252 million (Table 3.1).